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About 50 people took over a the lobby of a building for 8 hours near the Capitol protesting immigration legislation. About two dozens refused to leave and were charged after being escorted outside.

AUSTIN – Defeated in both legislative chambers and facing the prospect of Gov. Greg Abbott signing into law what they consider a “show me your papers” measure to curb illegal immigration, more than 50 activists took control of a state office building for eight hours Monday in an act of peaceful defiance.

When it ended, about two dozen of them were cited on criminal trespass charges as scores of supporters outside chanted slogans, waved signs and vented frustration about their lack of power in the corridors of Texas government.

“Those of us who stood up and allowed ourselves to be arrested wanted to send a message that the beauty of America is for everyone, immigrant and native-born alike,” said Chuck Freeman, a Unitarian minister who was among those detained with plastic restraints placed on their wrists after refusing to leave the State Insurance Building on the grounds of the Texas Capitol.

The building, about 100 yards from the Capitol itself, was selected because it houses several offices of the governor’s staff. And it can be entered without going through a security screening process that includes metal detectors and wands for those whose clothing and belongings touch off security alarms.

The protesters were objecting to last week’s passage by the Texas House of Senate Bill 4, which would require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities seeking to arrest or deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records. A similar version of the so-called sanctuary cities bill has already cleared the Senate, and the two chambers are now working to reconciles the differences before sending to Abbott, who has said he’s eager to sign it into law.

The scene at the Insurance Building was reminiscent of the sit-ins from the civil rights movement and Vietnam era and participants sang songs of protest in both English and Spanish. Cristina Parker, a spokeswoman for the several organizations that organize the protest that started with a march at the Capitol’s front gate, said the measure would instill fear in all Latino and immigrant communities because residents would be reluctant to report crimes – much less bond with community-minded police officers – because they’d fear deportation of themselves or loved ones.

Inside the Capitol, the chief of Texas’ largest local law enforcement agency was taking an almost identical message to the offices of Abbott and top legislative leaders. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said the provision – included in the original Senate version and added as a late amendment to the House version of S.B. 4 – that allows local police to seek proof of legal immigration status as soon as someone is detained but not yet arrested will play havoc with community policing.

“That makes no sense whatsoever,” Acevedo told the USA Today Network as he lobbied lawmakers outside the House chamber. “That’s going to make the job of local law enforcement so much more difficult.”

Inside the Insurance Building, protesters stood by the east and west glass doors to the lobby and linked arms in an effort to keep state workers whose offices were inside from coming in or leaving. Reporters were allowed in, but only after showing Capitol press credentials.

Pizza and bottled water were delivered at the expense of several social service organizations that supported the protest.

A handful of uniformed troopers from the Department of Public Safety were inside with them, mostly as monitors to keep order but not to silence the protest.

"We want to work with these people so we don't have to arrest anybody,” one trooper who patrolled outside on bicycle said.

Pizza boxes outside the building occupied by immigration protesters on May 1, 2017.(Photo: John C. Moritz/USA Today Network Austin Bureau)

But when the offices were closed when the state workday ended at 5 p.m., the protesters were told to leave or face arrest. Most left. But those who stayed were given notice that criminal trespass citations would be issued.

The idea, which came to fruition at the end, was to issue tickets and escort the protesters to the Capitol grounds, which are open to the public 24/7. But that process took more than two hours.

A lawyer, George Lobb of Austin, arrived at the building after 5 p.m. saying he wanted to represent clients inside who were being told about the charges they’d face. He came out and addressed a crowd of about 100 saying he was denied the opportunity to meet the protesters to offer legal advice. The crowd booed.

Reporters, meanwhile raced from the east door to the west door time and again to see if the remaining occupants would be shuttled off to jail. But when the end came about 7:15 p.m., the protesters were simply led outside the west door where troopers cut the plastic wrist restraints.

Asked if the effort was worth it, Freeman smiled and nodded.

“Yes,” he said. “Absolutely.”

John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at John.Moritz@caller.com and follow him on Twitter @JohnnieMo.